Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

Tulips bloom, songbirds chorus, lilac fragrance filters the air, and rainfall sparks growth and green. Spring has sprung and with it comes outdoor adventures, for both people and pets. As more outings commence, there are also increased health and safety concerns for our pets.

Defend Against DiseaseBats, skunks, and raccoons can carry rabies, and if our pets are bitten and aren’t properly vaccinated, a major health crisis can and often does take place, and it often leads to death. Vaccinate your pets against rabies, parvo, leukemia and other fatal diseases; talk to your vet about prevention.

Heartworm is another very lethal disease, and fleas and ticks can make pets miserable as well as very sick. Prevention is the cure – again, consult with your vet.

Get the Groom On!Spring brings warmer temperatures and a good grooming can not only help alleviate the flea and tick infestations, but also helps your dog and cat feel more comfortable as those temperatures rise. Trimming hair, cleaning ears, and brushing teeth keeps your furry friend happier and healthier.

Have ID?With more time spent outside, the opportunity for a pet to get lost rises like the increasing temperature.Slipping from a leash or harness, high-tailing it over the fence, lost while hiking, or escaping during a thunderstorm – all of these possibilities are concerning. Ensure your pet has a collar with ID tag and/or is microchipped and that way can be returned home more quickly. Alleviate your anxiety of your pet’s potential disappearance by having proper, and accurate, identification on your furry friend.

Be Kind to Animals Week overlaps with Children's Book Week. Kids can learn kindness to animals via reading. They also learn kindness through observation and interaction. During this special time, we can encourage children, other adults, as well as ourselves to be a bit kinder … and to read more.

“Teach the children well,” are words in a Crosby, Stills and Nash song (see a YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVaqZajq-I). Teaching children kindness toward people and pets offers great rewards for those kids, including opportunity to do good in a community and the opportunity to make new friends. In fact, according to a research study called Kindness Counts, “When kids performed acts of kindness or took notice of the pleasant places they visited, their happiness quotient increased ... (and) … they gained an average of 1.5 friends during the month-long period” (see related article at http://www.rootsofaction.com/art-kindness-teaching-children-care/).What are some ways we can be kind to pets and people, and how can we more greatly instill kindness in others, including children? The list of ideas is endless, but here are some suggestions:

Take care of your own pets. Ensure the animals under your care have clean water, plenty of food, shelter, and attention. Just like young children, our pets thrive from our caring, concern, devotion, and responsibility toward them. Children helping to care for the family pet learn responsibility as well as kindness.

Help pets in need. Volunteer at and/or donate to local and regional animal rescue and welfare organizations. These non-profits need the help and support of their community to do their job, and who is the community? All of us!

Another way to help animals in need is to create toys and other things for shelter pets. Items such as fleece blanket beds and cat toys can help shelter animals while they are waiting for their forever homes. You and your family or classroom can make these items and/or conduct a pet food and supply drive and then donate the items to the animal shelter and rescue groups in your area.

Similarly, conduct a supply drive for the homeless and less fortunate people in your community. These can be canned food items, toiletries (such as toothpaste/brushes, shampoo, soap, hair brushes/combs, etc). Collect these items from neighbors, faith-based group studies, school, or service organizations to which you belong and then donate to your local rescue mission, food pantry, or similar entity.

Serve a few meals each month at the local soup kitchen or be a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels – and include the kids in these service projects!

Mow a neighbor's lawn, especially an elderly or invalid neighbor.

Caretake a friend's pet for a weekend so the family/couple can get away for a few days.

Don't let children tease or torment any pet. Teasing animals makes them afraid and potentially aggressive, and it's against the law to abuse and neglect pets. If you witness animal abuse or neglect, report it to authorities. There are laws to protect animals against abuse and neglect. Many people who start off being abusive and violent to animals end up treating humans the same way. Be a humane hero and help end animal abuse and talk to your kids about this important topic.

Open the floodgates of kindness toward pets and people this week, teaching children empathy and compassion. Read a wonderful pet story with them -- share the gifts of knowledge and reading. Both showing kindness and sharing books will impact their lives, another's life, and even your own life, for the better.